Was it creepy to be glad in this sort of situation? Setsuko thought that it probably was, but she couldn't help it… She finally wasn't alone again, and the white haired girl couldn't stop the small smile that cracked her lips. The other girl looked at her like she was crazy, sweat plastering her auburn hair to her shiny, damp face.

"Why are you smiling?" The new girl had snapped, her cat-like amethyst eyes glistening with raw confusion. "This is no time to be freaking smiling!"

Of course, the auburn haired girl standing, panting by the door was right, and Setsuko's smile instantly vanished, but her crimson eyes didn't lose their happy shine – not for a second.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered, feeling that horrible insecurity come rushing back. "I'm just… glad to not be alone anymore…"

After those words, it seemed as though the newbie's purple eyes softened a tiny bit, but she still held her defence. And who could blame her? She had just been thrown into a life or death – more like death – situation. And those who did come out on top were never the same… Setsuko had seen it with her own eyes.

"What's your name, brat?" Her voice was sharp, but not as lethal as before. Setsuko looked up from where her eyes had begun searching the floor, and blinked a few times. "I asked for your name, are you going to tell me or not?"

Again, Setsuko blinked.

"Fine then, I'll just call you 'Brat'." The other girl huffed, her arms reaching up to fold themselves across her chest in an indignant way. "I'm Fallon."

"Fallon…" Setsuko whispered, her eyes still trained on the athletically built girl in front of her. "It's nice to meet you… Fallon…"

Fallon just huffed and stormed over to a corner before plopping down onto the cold stone floor. She turned her head stubbornly to the side, refusing to look at the fourteen year old girl who was also present in the room.

"Whatever…"

"You have red eyes." It was a statement, and Setsuko looked up to meet the brilliant purple eyes of her new teammate, Fallon. "It's weird."

Setsuko shifted uncomfortably on the floor, her red dress probably gathering dirt. But that didn't matter anymore, not with where they were.

"You think so?" The snow haired girl hesitantly asked, averting her gaze self-consciously.

Fallon nodded fervently and stood back to her original height, her hands placed on her hips. Her piercing gaze never left Setsuko, whose red eyes were now shadowed by her paper white bangs.

"Yep, definitely weird, Brat." She confirmed, and Setsuko felt herself shrinking further and further back. This was just like the other kids, poking fun at her strange coloured eyes and hair, just because they were jealous. But why would Fallon be jealous? "But," Setsuko dared to look up, and her eyes grew wide when she saw the huge grin plastered on her older teammates face. "But they're cool, after all, being normal is boring."

"Fallon…"

Then, Fallon's grin dropped and she spun round on her heels, her voice back to the usual, condescending tone that she had used with the younger girl ever since they had met.

"That doesn't mean I like you though, Brat." She snapped, trying to erase her nice spell completely. "It just means you're alright, so don't get cocky."

Setsuko just beamed, a smile that was brighter than any she had ever had before. And when she spoke, her voice wasn't her normal quiet almost-whisper, it was a tad more confident.

"I know!"

And, with her back turned to Setsuko, Fallon smiled – a secret smile, one that Setsuko wouldn't ever see, but it was a smile none the less.

"What's your magic?" It was totally out of the blue, but Setsuko found that most comments with Fallon usually were.

"My magic?" Setsuko echoed, sounding like a lost puppy.

Fallon, who was sitting cross legged across from the white haired girl, rolled her eyes, her hands holding onto her combat boot clad toes.

"Yeah, genius." She mocked. "You know, like, what you fight with?"

Setsuko squirmed on the spot, not looking at Fallon. Her magic… could you really class her power as magic? Well, she supposed in some way, maybe it was…

"I talk to animals…" She whispered, daring to look back at Fallon, who just blinked. Then blinked again. Then blinked once more.

"Are you sure that's not just some crazy-arsed habit?" The auburn haired eighteen year old asked, looking generally curious. "Because, you know, I've seen people talk to trees before, but I wouldn't exactly say that that was a magic…"

Setsuko fiddled with her fingers.

"Well, they fight alongside me too…" She elaborated, trying to make herself sound like less of a crazy person than she was coming across as. "And I give them commands, and they follow…"

Fallon seemed to mull the thought over for a moment, her mauve eyes focused on something off to the side. Although, what may be there is a total mystery… Maybe a dust bunny?

"Oh," She said after a minute or two of silence. "I guess that counts then."

More silence. And then…

"What's your magic, Fallon?" Setsuko tried, hoping that maybe this could be a stepping stone to a friendship. She always wanted a friend, maybe Fallon would begin to take that job…

"None of your business, Brat." … Or maybe not… "My powers too brilliant for you to understand."

Setsuko frowned.

"Oh…"

"You can have it…" Setsuko whispered, ignoring the dryness of her parched throat. Fallon looked at her, and then to the near empty bottle in her hand. There was barely enough for one person, there definitely wouldn't be enough for two…

"Are you sure a shrimp like you can last hours until the next bottle arrives?" Fallon asked, feeling something akin to worry playing with her muscled heart.

Setsuko nodded, her body screaming at her to just take the bottle, that no, in fact, she couldn't last hours until the refill.

"I'll be fine… Don't worry." She forced a weak smile, trying to be selfless although she really wanted to, for once, be totally selfish.

Fallon looked from the bottle to Setsuko before sighing.

"Well, if you're sure…" She then began to raise the bottle to her lips. She could almost taste the water when she looked out of the corner of her catty eyes, spotting her teammate easily and watching as the girl once again fiddled with the black band around her wrist.

Sighing, Fallon removed the bottle from her lips, a sad frown on her face. Then, she walked over to Setsuko and thrust the bottle under her nose, her gaze wandering to the side.

"Here, I guess I'm not so thirsty…" Setsuko looked up at the bottle, before moving her line of sight to Fallon. "Take it already, you want it, right?"

Carefully, Setsuko plucked the bottle from Fallon's fingers and raised the top to her lips, relishing in the feel of the warm water running down her dry throat.

"That doesn't mean I like you though, Brat." Fallon snapped.

Setsuko smiled. Fallon always seemed to say that, but, if she didn't actually like Setsuko, why would she do this?

"I know!" Setsuko beamed. Oh, she knew alright. She knew, that below the strong front, maybe Fallon did care…

… Just a tiny, weenie bit.

Yes, quick updates again, because I am so close to the end now that I can't bear to just leave it hanging for ages anymore! The poll will go up now, so vote for who you want to survive, the Black Team, or the Navy Team!